Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte emphasized the importance of the conduct of earthquake drills and preparedness training following the magnitude 6.9 earthquake struck some areas in Mindanao including Davao City.
The earthquake of tectonic was felt in Glan, Sarangani; and General Santos City with an intensity 8; intensity 5 in Matanao, Davao del Sur; Maasim, Malapatan, Sarangani; Lake Sebu, Tampakan, Polomolok, Banga; intensity 4 in Kidapawan City; Magsaysay in Davao del Sur; Davao City; Don Marcelino, Jose Abad Santos in Davao Occidental; Kiamba, Maitum in Sarangani; Norala, Tantangan in South Cotabato; President Quirino, Lebak, Isulan, Esperanza, Columbio, Kalamansig in Sultan Kudarat.
“Nakababahala po ang malalakas na lindol na nangyari sa Mindanao 4:14 ng hapon ng Biernes. Ako man ay nakaranas din ng malalakas na lindol noong ako ay alkalde ng Davao at meron itong dala na trauma. Kinakailangan natin maging kalmado, at unahin ang pagcheck ng ating mga bahay at gusali para paghanda sa aftershocks. Sa mga kalamidad na katulad nito, lumalabas po ang kahalagahan ng ating mga earthquake drills at iba pang pagsasanay para sa kahandaan. Manatili po tayong kalmado, matatag at nagkakaisa,” the vice president said in her message.
Duterte underscored that all local disaster councils in the areas affected by the earthquake must have a report and have already started their response, especially with the return of electricity to the affected area.
The vice president reported that she attended a meeting with Executive Secretary Bersamin to review the responses of various government agencies following the earthquake.
In Davao City, among the effects of the quake was a crane at the top of a building that is being constructed along MacArthur Highway, Matina, Davao City collapsed.
The Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR) reported that the City Information Office (CIO) confirmed that there were no recorded casualties or deaths due to the earthquake and that as of 9:43 evening of Friday, no damage has been recorded.
DCDR reported that according to CIO head Harvey Lanticse, the Office of the City Building Official (OCBO) already notified and advised the management of The Davao Paragon to remove the crane that collapsed and hanging from the top of one of its buildings while the investigation is still ongoing.
The company was also ordered to submit an incident report.
The City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (CDRRMO) continues to coordinate with other agencies in the aftermath of the earthquake.
Meanwhile, Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao Leo Tereso Magno, with the directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., readily coordinated with the Office of Civil Defense in affected areas along with other agencies.
“Buong hapon ako nagcocoordinate. The instruction is to make sure all concerns are addressed right away,” Magno said.
Based on the data gathered by the Office of the Presidential Assistant for Eastern Mindanao (OPAMINE), the quake struck around 4:14 pm offshore Davao Occidental with a depth of 10 kilometers. No tsunami warning was however hoisted.
Most affected were the areas of Davao Occidental and Sarangani.
In Sarangani province, coastline water of Alabel town receded while the Malapatan-Glan highway is not passable to 4-wheel vehicle due the a landslide.
In General Santos City, the seawater was also observed to have receded. There also was recorded stampede in the Golden State College involving more or less 250 students.
Some were brought to hospital but were later released with no serious injury. A mall in GenSan also reported collapsed roof and damaged wall.
In Tampakan, South Cotabato an old funeral house collapsed with one vehicle totally wrecked. A mall in Koronadal City also incurred wall damage, while another incurred damage on tile flooring.
Two persons reportedly died when the concrete wall of their house collapsed in General Santos City.
